COREDO > Company Formation in Hong Kong

Company Formation in Hong Kong

Why Register a Company in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the world’s leading financial centres and a key international jurisdiction for entering Asian markets. The jurisdiction offers favourable taxation, a territorial tax system, fast company registration, and no minimum share capital requirements.

COREDO has been operating since 2016 and offers full support for the company formation process in Hong Kong without requiring the founder’s personal presence. Our specialists handle document preparation, interaction with government authorities, and all administrative procedures.

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Cost of the service
from 2 500 EUR

Types of Companies in Hong Kong

Hong Kong legislation provides foreign entrepreneurs with the opportunity to register a company in one of the following legal forms.

Private Limited Company (Ltd)

Limited liability company. The most common form of doing business in Hong Kong. It requires a minimum of one director (a natural person, at least 18 years old) and one shareholder. The director and the shareholder may be the same person. There are no residency requirements for directors — they may be of any nationality. Share capital is formed without restrictions; the standard practice is HKD 1,000. Shareholders’ liability is limited to the amount of their contribution, making this form the most attractive for international business.

Sole Proprietorship

The simplest form of doing business, where the owner bears full personal liability for the obligations of the business. It is suitable for small businesses and freelancers. Registration is carried out through the Inland Revenue Department by obtaining a Business Registration Certificate. This form does not create a separate legal entity.

Partnership

A form of doing business involving two or more partners. A distinction is made between a General Partnership, where all partners bear unlimited liability, and a Limited Partnership, where some partners are liable only up to the amount of their contributions. Partnership activities are governed by the Partnership Ordinance (Cap. 38) and the Limited Partnerships Ordinance (Cap. 37).

Branch or representative office of a foreign company

An active foreign company has the right to open a branch in Hong Kong. A branch is not a separate legal entity and operates on behalf of the parent company. To register a branch, an application must be filed with the Companies Registry along with the parent company’s incorporation documents, duly certified. The branch is required to appoint an authorised representative who is a resident of Hong Kong.

Company Registration Procedure

Company registration in Hong Kong is carried out through the Companies Registry under the one-stop registration regime. When filing for incorporation, a Business Registration Certificate is simultaneously issued through the Inland Revenue Department.

The main stages of the process include: preparation and approval of the company name (Hong Kong imposes strict naming requirements — the name must not be identical to or too similar to already registered names), preparation of the Articles of Association, filing the application with the Companies Registry (electronic submission via e-Registry), obtaining the Certificate of Incorporation and the Business Registration Certificate, and appointment of a Company Secretary who is a resident of Hong Kong.

The company name may be registered in English, in Chinese, or in both languages simultaneously. Mixing English and Chinese characters in one name is not permitted. The Companies Registry maintains a register of names, and it is recommended to conduct a preliminary availability check of the chosen name through the online ICRIS system before filing the application.

Required Documents

To register a company in Hong Kong, the following documents are required:

the approved company name (in English or Chinese);

details of directors and shareholders (identity documents, proof of address);

Articles of Association (the constitutional document setting out the internal regulations of the company);

confirmation of a registered office address in Hong Kong;

details of the appointed Company Secretary who is a resident of Hong Kong.

All foreign documents must be translated into English or Chinese and notarised.

In addition, when filing the application, form NNC1 (Incorporation Form for Forming a Company) is completed, which includes details of the founders, first directors, and the company secretary. COREDO handles the preparation of all required forms and documents.

Registration Timelines

When filing electronically through the e-Registry system, obtaining the Certificate of Incorporation is possible within one business day. The standard company registration procedure with COREDO takes one to three business days. With paper filing, the process may take up to five weeks. The Certificate of Registration is valid for one year and is subject to annual renewal.

Cost of Services

Service	Cost
Company formation (full COREDO package)	EUR 2,500 + VAT
Annual company maintenance	EUR 1,500 + VAT/year
Government fee for Certificate of Incorporation	HKD 1,720
Business Registration Certificate (1 year)	HKD 2,250

The cost includes preparation of all required documents, provision of a registered office address for one year, payment of government fees, Company Secretary services, company support, and production of the company seal, as well as certified corporate documents for opening a bank account.

Tax System of Hong Kong

Hong Kong applies a territorial principle of taxation: only profits derived within Hong Kong are subject to tax. Profits from activities outside the jurisdiction are not subject to taxation.

The profits tax system is two-tiered. For corporations: the first HKD 2,000,000 of profit is taxed at a rate of 8.25%, and profit above this amount is taxed at 16.5%. For unincorporated businesses, the rates are 7.5% and 15% respectively.

Hong Kong has no VAT, no capital gains tax, and no dividend tax, making the jurisdiction particularly attractive for international trading and holding structures. Hong Kong has concluded double taxation avoidance agreements with numerous countries worldwide.

Every company is required to maintain accounting records and undergo an annual audit by a licensed auditor. The Profits Tax Return is filed with the Inland Revenue Department, typically within one month of receiving notification from the tax authority. The first tax return is usually issued 18 months after the company’s registration.

Annual Obligations of the Company

After registration, the company is required to fulfil a number of annual requirements. The Annual Return must be filed with the Companies Registry within 42 days of the registration anniversary. Annual renewal of the Business Registration Certificate through the Inland Revenue Department is also required. The company is obligated to undergo an annual audit of financial statements and to file the tax return in a timely manner. COREDO provides support for all annual procedures as part of the maintenance package at a cost of EUR 1,500 + VAT per year.

Jurisdiction-Specific Features

Every company in Hong Kong is required to have a Company Secretary — a natural person who is a resident of Hong Kong, or a company registered in Hong Kong. COREDO provides corporate secretary services as part of the registration package. The Company Secretary is responsible for ensuring the company’s compliance with the requirements of the Companies Ordinance, maintaining company registers, and filing mandatory reports.

It should also be noted that companies providing asset management services, securities and futures advisory services are required to obtain a licence from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) after completing registration. Hong Kong places significant emphasis on compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) requirements, and companies are obligated to comply with the provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615).

Our Experts

The COREDO team has been operating since 2016 and possesses deep expertise in company registration across Asian and European jurisdictions.

Nikita Veremeev

Founder & NED of COREDO. Founded the company in 2016 and personally oversees the strategic development of the business across dozens of jurisdictions.

Pavel Kos

Head of Legal. Has been part of the COREDO team since June 2017, responsible for legal support of corporate projects and company registration.

Basang Ungunov

Lawyer. Has been part of the COREDO team since June 2022, specialising in legal support for company registration and structuring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a company be registered in Hong Kong remotely?

Yes, COREDO provides fully remote company registration in Hong Kong. The personal presence of the director or founder is not required — all formalities are handled by our specialists on site within one to three business days.

What are the minimum capital requirements for a company in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong legislation does not impose minimum share capital requirements. Most companies are registered with a nominal share capital of HKD 1,000. The amount of share capital may be increased at any time by shareholder resolution.

Is profit derived outside Hong Kong subject to tax?

No, Hong Kong applies a territorial principle of taxation. Profit derived from activities outside the jurisdiction is not subject to profits tax. This is a key advantage for international trading and holding companies.

Is a Company Secretary required and who can fulfil this role?

Yes, every company in Hong Kong is required to have a Company Secretary — a natural person who is a resident of Hong Kong, or a company registered in Hong Kong. COREDO includes corporate secretary services in the registration package, relieving the client of the need to independently find a local specialist.

What are the annual obligations of a company in Hong Kong?

The company is required to file an Annual Return with the Companies Registry within 42 days of the registration anniversary, renew the Business Registration Certificate, and file the Profits Tax Return with the Inland Revenue Department. An annual audit of financial statements is also mandatory. COREDO provides support for all annual procedures as part of the maintenance package at a cost of EUR 1,500 + VAT per year.

What forms of companies are available to foreigners in Hong Kong?

Foreign entrepreneurs can register a Private Limited Company (Ltd), a Sole Proprietorship, a Partnership (General or Limited), or open a branch of a foreign company. The most popular and recommended form is the Private Limited Company, which provides limited liability for shareholders and enjoys the greatest trust among counterparties and banks.

Contact Us

COREDO specialists provide full support for the company formation process in Hong Kong — from preparation of incorporation documents to obtaining the Certificate of Incorporation and opening a bank account. We have been operating since 2016 and help entrepreneurs from dozens of countries successfully build business structures in Asia and Europe.